This website is very fascinating, but I've noticed something while perusing the forums here.

The number of people who have posted that they have "beaten" the polygraph (that is, using counter-measures and lying) seems to be low.  It's understandable, since I bet a lot of people may post "I have a polygraph soon and need to lie"  looking for any help they can get, and then I'd guess that they would only return to complain if they were found to be deceptive.  The same goes for false-positives from people who are 100% truthful in their polygraph.  In general, it seems like we don't see a lot of people who passed the polygraph here, probably because a lot of casual observers only come here when necessary and then never return.

But still, I have some questions for anybody active here who has "beaten" the polygraph when lying:

1) What were the circumstances of your polygraph?
2) What counter-measures did you use?
3) Were you still subjected to a post-test interrogation or did the examiner just give you a thumbs up and a good-job pat on the butt as they let you out the door?

And before any of the pro-polygraph crowd jumps down my throat, not I don't have a polygraph coming up that I intend on lying on, I'm just a curious chemistry grad student who saw the polygraph mythbusters episode lol

I came across this website several months ago after taking a polygraph.  Passed without problems.  Maybe I live a boring life.

Okay, I get it...polygraph is suspect, but I'm concerned about your ethics and character.  It's bad enough that we corrupt politicians and government employees, but you seem to enjoy the fact that you've committed criminal acts and got away with it.  God help us.

Please don't play Morality Police and derail my thread.  I was hoping to get some anecdotes from people who have lied and beaten the polygraph, and I thank the person who actually contributed to the thread.

You know, as I read this thread, I couldn't help but think that the person who wrote in about beating the polygraph was full of crap.  The new computerized models are nearly 100% accurate or so case studies have shown and having seen nothing to discriminate such, I have to agree.

1.) I had my own personal run-in with a polygraph test just over a year ago where my ex-wife accused me of some pretty horrid stuff and I freely vouched to take one without second thought.

2.) There is no such thing as controlled breathing as the senior analyst could see my breathing and even warned once of seeing a possible such event on the machine as I was in fact calming myself after the first of three sets of questions.  No counters were needed as I had nothing to hide.

3.) The tester for the state investigators was satisfied with the results and after a brief recess to do whatever, came in and gave an 'all done' and such.

I really don't see why people swear that a machine can read your mind?  Really people? 

Yes the poly can tell when your breathing changes or heart rate changes.  But what if your breathing and heart rate stays the same, like if you are thinking exciting thoughts the whole time?  Neither the polygrapher nor the poly will ever know what you are thinking unless you tell them, so keep your mouth shut.

My background is so dirty that I will never tell on myself.  And I know many others, federal agents, intel officers, people who wipe the president's ass, who have dirty backgrounds too.  But did the poly catch them?  Nope.  Because we all laugh at that stupid machine.   

Thank you AntiPolygraph.org for TLBTLD and all the great info on this site.  I laugh at anyone who makes a career out of administering polygraphs, you are the real bad guys.  Get a real job.

My background is so dirty that I will never tell on myself.  And I know many others, federal agents, intel officers, people who wipe the president's ass, who have dirty backgrounds too.

I have no respect for corrupt government officials.  Can you identify the people or would you be willing to report these people?

Curiouskat, I was on federal probation (and freely admit it) when I was poly'd.  Also was CVSA'd twice.  You always get a pre-interrogation interview, and you always will (according to the polyboy) "have trouble" with at least one question.  They'll pick one, and usually won't show you the screen/paper tracing...

My solution?  No admissions, no explanatory statements (just gives them more to ask about), no nothing.  That's post-test.  Same goes for pre-test.

I submit some CM's work better than others.  Mental CM's give you some advantage over physical because they can't be caught- period.  Physical CM's have their place, too, but... read TLBTLD, know it, and know yourself and your physiological responses to both CQ's and RQ's before you go full guns for a physical CM strategy... imho...

...remembering that the polygaffer is not your pal or someone on your side.  At best, they're someone looking for admissions.  At worst, they're out to disqualify you from whatever you're there for, twist your words into double-helixes, or glean info for legal or other purposes...

No comment on my success rate for beating polys    However, calmness, blanking your mind (esp during RQ's), and pumping up your reactions to CQ's has, ah, been of assistance to me.  That, and knowing the whole process and all its merdum tauri (Latin), was a large help.  We fear what we don't know a lot more than what we do know.

One thing I have done that isn't much spoken of is the tactic of answering CQ's ("Have you ever lied to make yourself appear better or savvier to someone else?" was one I had once) both honestly (which is a yes) -and- augmenting my response anyway.  It must have played with that guy's mind something fierce.  He wanted a lie of no, of course, but I was flat truthful with him.  However, I still realized that I needed to augment, so I did.  And I passed, with a very half-hearted try of "trouble" on a side issue.  Bing bang boom.

..."If you know your enemy (polygrapher) as yourself, you will be victorious in 100 out of 100 battles."- Sun Tzu.  Know TLBTLD.  Know yourself.  If you do, what others have used is almost immaterial, unless you're facing some similar situation calling for an unorthodox CM... 

I took two poly's and failed both with biting tongue. The first I missed one, the second it was 2 questions. Now they are going to give my accuser one. Hope they fail also. That will give me an out.